MSX

For other uses, see MSX (disambiguation).
"MSX2" redirects here. For the protein, see Msh homeobox 2.

MSX
Sony MSX, Model HitBit 10-P
DeveloperASCII Corporation
ManufacturerNational, Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Philips, Canon, Yamaha, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, JVC, Fujitsu, Spectravideo, GoldStar, Hitachi, Kyocera, Yashica, Daewoo, Dragon MSX, Casio
TypeHome computer
Release dateOctober 21, 1983 (MSX)
Discontinued1993 (MSX turboR)
Operating systemMSX BASIC, MSX-DOS
CPU
Memory
  • 8–64 KB maximum (MSX1)
  • 64-512 KB, expandable to up to 4 MB via memory mapper cartridge (MSX2 and higher)
Graphics

MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983.[1][2] It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Corporation.[3] Microsoft and Nishi conceived the project as an attempt to create unified standards among various home computing system manufacturers of the period, in the same fashion as the VHS standard for home video tape machines.[4][5] The first MSX computer sold to the public was a Mitsubishi ML-8000, released on October 21, 1983, thus marking its official release date.[6]

MSX systems were popular in Japan and several other countries. There are differing accounts of MSX sales. One source claims 9 million MSX units were sold worldwide, including 7 million in Japan alone,[7] whereas ASCII corporation founder Kazuhiko Nishi claims that 3 million were sold in Japan, and 1 million overseas.[8] Despite Microsoft's involvement, few MSX-based machines were released in the United States.[9]

The meaning of the acronym MSX remains a matter of debate. In 2001, Kazuhiko Nishi recalled that many assumed that it was derived from "Microsoft Extended", referring to the built-in Microsoft Extended BASIC (MSX BASIC). Others believed that it stood for "Matsushita-Sony". Nishi said that the team's original definition was "Machines with Software eXchangeability",[10] although in 1985 he said it was named after the MX missile.[11] According to his book in 2020, he considered the name of the new standard should consist of three letters, like VHS. He felt "MSX" was fit because it means "the next of Microsoft", and it also contains the first letters of Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sony.[12]

Before the success of Nintendo's Family Computer, the MSX was the platform that major Japanese game studios such as Konami and Hudson Soft developed for. The first two games in the Metal Gear series were originally released for MSX hardware.[13]

  1. ^ Laing, Gordon (2004). Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer. Ilex Press. ISBN 9781904705390.
  2. ^ "ASCII Express: 新しいホームパーソナルコンピュータ仕様 MSX". ASCII (in Japanese). 7 (8). ASCII. 1983. ISSN 0287-9506.
  3. ^ Wood, Robert (1983). "Japanese seek to dominate home market". InfoWorld. 5 (49): 158. Retrieved September 16, 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "MSX: The Japanese are coming! The Japanese are coming!". The Register. June 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "Kazuhiko Nishi". eNotes.com.
  6. ^ "The First MSX". ascii.jp.
  7. ^ Loguidice, Bill (April 14, 2017). "The bright life of the MSX, Japan's underdog PC". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "【伝説のパソコンMSX】仕掛け人がついに明かす「失敗の本質」". ダイヤモンド・オンライン (in Japanese). December 26, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Root, Howard; Williams, Brian (August 1984). "Faceoff: will MSX be a success in the United States". Creative Computing. Vol. 10, no. 8. p. 198.
  10. ^ Nishi, Kazuhiko (April 21, 2001). MSX Fair Tilburg 2001 – by Totally Chaos (video). Event occurs at 14:40. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Watt, Peggy (February 4, 1985). "Japan's MSX poised for the US". InfoWorld. Vol. 7, no. 5. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. pp. 19–20 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ Nishi, Kazuhiko (December 5, 2020). "ついに明かされる！ 伝説のパソコン「MSX」誕生の驚くべき"舞台裏"". Diamond Online (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kojima Productions". Konami.jp. Retrieved June 22, 2011.